Solutions were hard to find after the Cubs lost their fourth straight game and ninth in their last 10. Their 6-12 record this month definitely qualifies as a June swoon. They're batting .218 over their last 11 games, and Cub starters have compiled an 8.26 earned-run average over the last 10 games.

The same basic team that won 90 games last year is suddenly looking like a .500 team.

"I know people get down on us and all that and I understand," Riggleman said. "But I believe in this group. I have no complaints at all about the way we've played. I know someone will turn that (quote) around on me, but we're just having a hard time winning ballgames.

"When you play with intensity, I can't be anything but satisfied. We made an error. The other team made three errors."

Rookie Kyle Farnsworth (2-2) was rocked for six runs in 3 1/3 innings to put the Cubs in an early 6-1 hole from which they could not escape.

The Cubs pulled to 6-4 on three straight bases-loaded walks by Giants pitchers in the sixth, only to watch Felix Heredia and Rick Aguilera give up five runs in the seventh as the Giants pulled away again. San Francisco pitchers issued nine walks on top of the three errors, but the Cubs left 12 men on base.

Riggleman's postgame talk to the team reflected his belief that the Cubs will turn it around soon. Mark Grace, who committed his sixth error, believes the effort is there, if not the passion.

"Riggs believes in us and we believe in him," Grace said. "The confidence is not a problem. We have to go make it happen and execute. You can talk about it all you want, but it's just lip service."